Closure means for tubes



Oct. 12, 1943. J, E, MgNEAL 2,331,487

CLOSURE MEANS FOR TUBES Filed Feb.- 24, 1942 ATI'D R N EYB w yam a Patented Oct. 12, 1943 L UNITED" STATES j PATE T O FI Application February 24, 1942, Serial'No. 432,125

rol 'im. (01. 221-60) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in closure means for tubes.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a closure assembly for tubes which b may be easily applied to a tube of conventional 1 shape and construction and which will be effi-' cacious in its action to prevent the closure cap of the tube from being lost or misplaced.

Another object of my invention is-the provision of a device of the above mentioned character which will permit the closure cap to be readily applied to close the tube or to open the tube.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a device of the above mentioned character which is efiicient in operation, inexpensive to manufacture and simple in construction.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention and showing the same operatively associated with a conventional tube and closure cap,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the closure cap in the closed position, parts being shown in section and parts in elevation for clearness of illustration, I

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the hinge plate and connecting element embodying a part of my invention, and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the nozzle embodying a part of my invention.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral l designates a collapsible tube of conventional design and construction. The discharge end of the tube is formed with a tapered shoulder H which terminates in a threaded neck l2 which conventionally receives the closure cap I3. The closure cap is of conventional construction. The annular skirt portion [4 defines an internally screw threaded socket which conventionally receives the externally screw threaded neck I2 of the tube and the end l5 of the skirt is provided with a radial flange IS the periphery of which is formed with angularly related facets which enable the user to better obtain a grip thereon for threading and unthreading the same from the tube.

It frequently happens that the cap I3 is lost or misplacedwhen thecb ntents of thecolla ps'ible tube are being used. 'kWhen' the closure c'a'p'is lost the 'contents'ofthe tubedr'y'very rapid-lyand if not used immediately frequently becomentirely dried and must therefore be discarded! It is my thought to provide a simple and efficient means for holding the closure cap associated with the tube at all times. My device comprises a supporting hinge plate 'I! having an opening, H! for receiving the exteriorly screw threaded neck ii of the tube ,and a lateral extension I9 whioh projects substantially laterally nozzle is threaded on to the neck until the lower end 25 thereof seats against the top surface of the plate H to securely hold the plate pressed against the shoulder ll of the tube. The plate is thus held against radial or longitudinal movement relative to the neck by the nozzle and the nozzle is formed at its upperend with an externally screw threaded extension 26 of the same size as the neck 12 of the tube, which extension is adapted to threadedly receive the closure cap I3. I

The connecting element 2| comprises a length of wire formed at its middle into a U-shaped portion 21. The base 28 of the U-shaped portion extended through the hinge joint 20 of the plate I I1 and the arm portions 29 and 30 thereof extend in laterally spaced relation away from the hinge joint 2p. The arm portions 29 and 39 of the connecting element terminate in laterally extending loops 3| and 32 which are provided at a the distal ends thereof with eyelets 33 which loosely and slidably receive arespective one of the arm portions 29 and 36. The arm portions of the connecting elements are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the external diameter of the skirt portion M of the closure cap. The skirt portion of the cap is inserted between the loop portions 3| and 32 of the connecting element and the radial flange l5 thereof The connecting ele- The radial flange of the clomovable therein and the eyelets 33 thereof are movable along the arms 29 and 30 to permit the proper adjustment to be realized. The manner in which the radial flange of the closure cap projects through the flanges will permit the same to be easily grasped between the thumb and finger of one hand whereby to effect rotation thereof onto and from the threaded extension 26 of the nozzle.

It may thus beseen that in operation the plate I! carrying the connecting element 2| is first applied to the threaded neck 12 of the tube. The nozzle 22 is next applied thereto and threaded thereon into seating engagement with the plate. The closure cap l5 of the tube is next applied to the connecting element in the l it is removed therefrom the connecting element 2| will swing in a direction away therefrom as i11ustratedin Figure 1 to unobstructively position the closure can while the contents of th tube are being discharged through the bore 23 of the nozzle.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A cap holder for tubes, comprising a plate adapted to be secured to the neck of a tube, the said plate extending laterally and having its outer end looped to form a hinged joint, and a connecting element formed of a single piece of wire having a central looped portion pivoted within the hinged joint and extending vertically in. parallel relation, the upper end of each vertical portion formed with a horizontal looped portiQIl Provided with an eye through which the vertical portions pass, whereby the flange of a closure cap is tightly held between the looped portions.

JAMES E. MQNEAL. 

